Starting in LA...
Discussion
As title, myself and Mrs Saleen fly into LA in September for the start of our holiday and as the search isn't working I thought I would post.
The plan is to stay in LA for 2-3 days before driving to Vegas, so firstly looking for a hotel recommendation?
What is the best way to get around LA, get the hire car at the airport and use that or buses/cabs etc then pick up the hire car on the day we head off to Vegas?
The plan is to stay in LA for 2-3 days before driving to Vegas, so firstly looking for a hotel recommendation?
What is the best way to get around LA, get the hire car at the airport and use that or buses/cabs etc then pick up the hire car on the day we head off to Vegas?
saleen836 said:
As title, myself and Mrs Saleen fly into LA in September for the start of our holiday and as the search isn't working I thought I would post.
The plan is to stay in LA for 2-3 days before driving to Vegas, so firstly looking for a hotel recommendation?
What is the best way to get around LA, get the hire car at the airport and use that or buses/cabs etc then pick up the hire car on the day we head off to Vegas?
The received wisdom is never to use public transport in LA ever. It's a very car friendly city.The plan is to stay in LA for 2-3 days before driving to Vegas, so firstly looking for a hotel recommendation?
What is the best way to get around LA, get the hire car at the airport and use that or buses/cabs etc then pick up the hire car on the day we head off to Vegas?
I'll be in LA around the same time and was looking at the public transport route as it worked so well in NYC. From what i could understand, each part of the city, Burbank, Beverley Hills etc has their own transit system, you have to change between each zone. There are a few tram lines etc which go through each area but they all go via Downtown where you have to change to another line to continue on your journey.
After looking at the logistics and cost i figured £80 for a car for 3 days for 4 of us or £10 each per day on the various transit systems. No brainer really.
After looking at the logistics and cost i figured £80 for a car for 3 days for 4 of us or £10 each per day on the various transit systems. No brainer really.
LA is not that 'car friendly', traffic can be bad, slow to get anywhere, loads of traffic lights across the grid road layout. Parking is available but you will pay, even hotels can charge a day rate to park. However...it is really the best choice because, as already said, the public transport is poor. I would definitely get a hire car for when you arrive, very easy pick up from LAX. Just check any hotel you book has parking.
Also my advice is book your car in the UK, before you go. If you're flying BA then book via their website using Avis, join 'Avis Preferred' before you book for extras such as free second driver. Insurances are all covered.
Also my advice is book your car in the UK, before you go. If you're flying BA then book via their website using Avis, join 'Avis Preferred' before you book for extras such as free second driver. Insurances are all covered.
As for hotels, I stayed here last time, for two nights.
http://magiccastlehotel.com/
Ask for one of their refurbed suites. It's just a short walk from all the main Hollywood attractions and has parking! Alternatively look outside LA, you will get better VFM and if you have a car you can drive into Hollywood for the day.
http://magiccastlehotel.com/
Ask for one of their refurbed suites. It's just a short walk from all the main Hollywood attractions and has parking! Alternatively look outside LA, you will get better VFM and if you have a car you can drive into Hollywood for the day.
warp9 said:
Stay one night in Santa Monica to recover from jet lag, then exit LA ASAP and enjoy the rest of your holiday.
Got to admit LA it is not my favourite place, two days is enough then head out and enjoy the open roads and California countryside. Vegas is a great place to visit, very WOW! A good drive as well, make plenty of stops en-route. Driving through the Nevada desert is great, if you're adventurous then work out a back route missing the main freeways, great fun! Edited by cjs on Friday 25th May 09:42
Edited by cjs on Friday 25th May 09:44
Thanks for the replies, I guess the main thing we are stopping in LA for a couple of days is to visit Universal Studio, will be booking 2 cars I think...Camaro (hopefully) for the drive to Vegas and back to LA then will have to swap it as we are flying home out of SFO and I don't think they do one way rental on the Camaro, staying just outside of LA isn't a problem and a friend who was there last year suggested the Hollywood Hotel, looks ok on their website and they can sort a studio tour.
Do not write off LA, it's an amazing city, you just have to take it for what it is and you'll end up finding out that it has a million and one hidden gems. I'd move there in a heartbeat.
Drop me a line if you want some info on LA.
The drive to Vegas is kind of bland, looooong straight roads in a desert. Death Valley is good for an over night and an early morning wander.
Vegas is a good town if you've never been, make sure you take in a show and watch the fountains.
I think you can do a one way hire on a Cameron if it isn't an SS, check with the rental company.
Drop me a line if you want some info on LA.
The drive to Vegas is kind of bland, looooong straight roads in a desert. Death Valley is good for an over night and an early morning wander.
Vegas is a good town if you've never been, make sure you take in a show and watch the fountains.
I think you can do a one way hire on a Cameron if it isn't an SS, check with the rental company.
warp9 said:
Stay one night in Santa Monica to recover from jet lag, then exit LA ASAP and enjoy the rest of your holiday.
this, we're heading out the day after arriving and returning 2 days before we fly back, all the parks etc bar Disneyland close the week before we arrive. It seems even in California once the kids are back at school everything closes.Did this trip a couple of weeks ago.
Listen to the advice of staying in Santa Monica. It's the best place to get over jetlag. We stayed midway between SM and Hollywood, it was quiet, but nothing to do. We had a hire car, did all of the tourist stuff for two days. Universal Studios was a genuine blast, true highlight. Hollywood Blvd was a dump.
Drove to vegas, stopped off at Denny's for pancakes and then got to Vegas and it was the best 3 days ever. Stayed at the Cosmopolitan, next door to Bellagio. Took in the Mayweather fight, then we did a show the next night. We did La Reve. I've seen a lot of shows. La Reve (at the wynn), bar none, best show I've seen in my life. We got lucky. We were at dinner at the cheesecake factory (Caesers Palace), and got talking to our waiter. turns out, his wife is concierge at our hotel, she hooked us up with great front row seats for nosebleed pricing.
Also did a trip to Hoover Dam, which was frankly, spectacular.
enjoy
Listen to the advice of staying in Santa Monica. It's the best place to get over jetlag. We stayed midway between SM and Hollywood, it was quiet, but nothing to do. We had a hire car, did all of the tourist stuff for two days. Universal Studios was a genuine blast, true highlight. Hollywood Blvd was a dump.
Drove to vegas, stopped off at Denny's for pancakes and then got to Vegas and it was the best 3 days ever. Stayed at the Cosmopolitan, next door to Bellagio. Took in the Mayweather fight, then we did a show the next night. We did La Reve. I've seen a lot of shows. La Reve (at the wynn), bar none, best show I've seen in my life. We got lucky. We were at dinner at the cheesecake factory (Caesers Palace), and got talking to our waiter. turns out, his wife is concierge at our hotel, she hooked us up with great front row seats for nosebleed pricing.
Also did a trip to Hoover Dam, which was frankly, spectacular.
enjoy
Fas1975 said:
Listen to the advice of staying in Santa Monica. It's the best place to get over jetlag. We stayed midway between SM and Hollywood, it was quiet, but nothing to do. We had a hire car, did all of the tourist stuff for two days. Universal Studios was a genuine blast, true highlight. Hollywood Blvd was a dump.
This isn't too far from what I'd suggest. Santa Monica is the most 'acceptable' of spots in LA. You can either head to 3rd Street for dinner or go to the better independent places on Arizona (I'll dig out the names if you are interested). There are lots of other places in LA to stay, and the easy mistake to make with LA is to think of it as a city with a centre, it does have a downtown, but not a 'beating heart' like London for example. As my Los Angelian friends told me, think of LA as a whole bunch of villages squashed together and you will see it in a different light. Westwood is a place I will often head to for a couple of nights, it has a nice little centre and it's a reasonable drive from the places that I like to go in town.Also, La Reve, as mentioned above, is stunning!
saleen836 said:
Any tips for decent hotels in Santa Monica?
The Shangrila is quite nice, you pay a premium for being on the beach, but it's a good location. http://www.shangrila-hotel.com/Depends on your budget though. I've always fancied Shutters on the Beach, but it's out of my price range.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff